You’re a Grand Old Flag
Stuck between Memorial Day and the Fourth of July, Flag Day is often overlooked. But not at St. Mary’s Home! Not this year or any year.
On Monday, June 14, on a beautiful late spring day, Residents, staff, and Sisters gathered in the garden to celebrate this annual holiday that commemorates the date in 1777 when the United States approved the “Stars and Stripes” design for its first national flag.
Notably, there were few public ceremonies that honored the flag until June 14, 1877, when it was flown from every government building for the centennial of the adoption of the flag. After that, many citizens and organizations advocated for a national day of commemoration for the flag. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson unofficially declared June 14 as Flag Day. And in 1949, the Congress permanently established the date as National Flag Day.
To commemorate the adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the official flag of the United States, we hoisted the Red, White, and Blue. Together, we then recited the Pledge of Allegiance. With the waving of miniature American flags, we heartily belted out such favorite songs as You’re a Grand Old Flag, The Battle Hymn of the Republic, America the Beautiful, God Bless America, and, of course, our national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner.
Our annual ceremony never fails to lift hearts and stir patriotic emotion, as we are reminded of how much our flag—and what it stands for—means to each of us as Americans. Great are our freedoms and abundant our blessings on Flag Day and every day.
You’re a Grand Old Flag